Greg Barnhisel

We spend a lot of time in Minneapolis because of Alison’s family. They all say that the Somalis there have been an enormous asset to the Twin Cities—good citizens, good neighbors, lovely people.

Modernism: Evolution of an Idea What exactly is “modernism”? And how and why has its definition changed over time?Modernism: Evolution of an Idea is the first book to trace the development of…

very old-school (1945!) but Joseph Frank's "Spatial Form in Modern Literature" is really good for that, showing what critics AT THE TIME saw modernism as doing. You might also use a chapter from Rogers and Latham's excellent survey of ideas of modernism www.bloomsbury.com/us/modernism...

Code Name Puritan An insightful biography of an unassuming literary scholar—and spy—who transformed postwar American culture. Although his impact on twentieth-century American cultural life was profound, few people kno...

Through Dec. 3,
@uchicagopress.bsky.social
has my CODE NAME PURITAN--a biography of the professor and spy Norman Holmes Pearson--at a 30% discount (enter HOLIDAY25 at checkout). Dapper WWII spies, Ivy League professors, wild bohemian poets: something for everyone! press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...

Cold War Modernists | Columbia University Press European intellectuals of the 1950s dismissed American culture as nothing more than cowboy movies and the A-bomb. In response, American cultural diplomats tr... | CUP

For this so-called "Cyber Monday," @columbiaup.bsky.social is offering all of its titles--including my own Cold War Modernists--at a 50% discount! At this price, you can't afford not to get yourself and everyone on your holiday shopping list a copy, can you?
cup.columbia.edu/book/cold-wa...

It was fun to do this “Authors in Conversation” feature with @elysegraham.bsky.social , where we reviewed each other’s books. My favorite thing about scholarly writing is engaging with other scholars, and this gave it an additional level. networks.h-net.org/group/discus...

It’s that time of year friends! Thanks to @erinbartram.bsky.social and our friends at @contingent-mag.bsky.social, Laura and I are putting together a list of 2025 articles & books by contingent & indie lit critters. DM, reply, email me @ suny press. And spread the word!!

A couple of good books on this are the Cloak & Gown by Robin Winks, about Yale and the IC (mostly OSS), and recently Code Name Puritan by Greg Barnhisel, about NH Pearson, an OSS Yalie and key 20th century literary figure who got Angleton hired into the OSS in London. cc @gbarnhisel.bsky.social

and it could give you an excuse to re-watch the film, which is always worth doing!

Jean Kerr's PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES maybe?

Why This Essay Could Cause the University of Virginia to Shut Down How Linda McMahon’s latest “compact” would do deep and permanent harm to American higher education

This, from @sivav.bsky.social, is the mic drop reply to the “Compact” you have been waiting for. It won’t, but it should really just end the discussion and deliberations straight up. newrepublic.com/article/2013...

translation: "somebody please burn a flag so we can get video of that"

Perhaps this garbage first-half performance by the #texaslonghorns is karmic payback for the university enthusiastically signing on to the Trump extortion "compact."

Complicating that analysis is the fact that the team embarrassing them is Florida, flagship of another MAGAfied system.

"It’s not possible to read a biography of William F. Buckley today except through the lens of Trump and MAGA." Greg Barnhisel writes in his review of Sam Tanenhaus’s "Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/did-the-buck-stop-with-buckley/

Was William F Buckley responsible for Trump and Trumpism? In my latest piece for the @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social , I argue that despite the men’s dramatic differences in self-presentation, Buckley might be seen as Trump’a patrician precursor.

Mr. Blue Blood and His Marvelous Adventure Norman Holmes Pearson and the apotheosis and decline of the old American elite

I had a great conversation with Daniel Oppenheimer about @uchicagopress.bsky.social book CODE NAME PURITAN: NORMAN HOLMES PEARSON AT THE NEXUS OF POETRY, ESPIONAGE, AND AMERICAN POWER for his “Eminent Americans” podcast. Listen here! danieloppenheimer.substack.com/p/mr-blue-bl...

Clean, low mileage!

The BOOK HISTORY editors are here in Rochester at the @sharpweb.org conference and ready to answer your questions or help you with any issues you might have missed! #bookhistory #sharp2025

Wonderful and thought-provoking keynote by Simone Murray at the “(Dis)Trusting the Institutions of Literature” conference in Dublin.

It’s springtime in New York and the new BOOK HISTORY is out! Featuring contributions by @whitneytrettien.bsky.social @juandmurillos.bsky.social @borna-i.bsky.social and others, this issue of @sharpweb.org ‘s official scholarly journal is 🔥📚! Link in the comments

It’s not you, it’s, you know… [waves hands around]

NYC folks! I'll be talking about my @uchicagopress.bsky.social book CODE NAME PURITAN: NORMAN HOLMES PEARSON AT THE NEXUS OF POETRY, ESPIONAGE, AND AMERICAN POWER at the venerable Grolier Club on Tuesday May 13, 6:30pm. Register (for free) at this Eventbrite link. www.eventbrite.com/e/code-name-...

Clean Energy, Dirt on Our Hands | Los Angeles Review of Books Greg Barnhisel reviews “Power Metal: The Race for the Resources That Will Shape the Future” by Vince Beiser.

When @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social assigned me to review @vincebeiser.bsky.social POWER METAL, the President of the United States wasn't yet extorting other nations for their rare earths. But hey, here we are! At least it makes the book more timely.... lareviewofbooks.org/article/clea...

"Vince Beiser lays out the environmental destructiveness of what he calls the 'Electro-Digital Age' in his buzzkill of a new book," Greg Barnhisel writes in his review of "Power Metals: The Race for the Resources That Will Shape the Future." lareviewofbooks.org/article/clea...

A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope

love the Egg!

My time on two NEH fellowship review panels impressed and inspired me with the quality of the proposals and the care and seriousness the panelists took in evaluating them. All of this gone, and grantees informed with a tone composed of equal parts glib dismissiveness and sneering patronization.

From what I can tell NEH has unilaterally and immediately canceled all its grants to state humanities councils and last night placed most or all the NEH's staff on leave. They're on leave but must remain available by phone to answer questions from the people dismantling the NEH.

A few tips for NEH grantees:
1) if you've spent money on an awarded grant but have not yet drawn down the funds, make sure to submit the paperwork to drawn down funds ASAP.

2) the NYTimes article suggests that "DOGE" might cancel awards. If you receive an email from DOGE cancelling your NEH award,

Thank you!!! A sale in Cambridge is worth like 2.5 sales anywhere else! (Except on the royalties sheet…)